The government will get an interim report next year on how airport capacity in the south-east can be better used.

A commission chaired by Sir Howard Davies, former deputy governor of the Bank of England, will also look at how capacity can be extended.

John Strickland, independent aviation consultant, told the Today programme he believes the Boris Island concept is "a superb one".

"In airline industry terms it has to be 100 percent behind a third runway at Heathrow," he warned; "we've got to de-politicise the process."

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.